Redhawks suffer home loss to Eastern Kentucky

Southeast Missouri State has suffered more than its share of disheartening losses this season.

But none cut any deeper in first-year coach Scott Edgar's eyes than Saturday night's 66-61 setback to visiting Eastern Kentucky.

Edgar felt the Redhawks laid something of an egg in front of more than 4,000 fans at the Show Me Center and a national television audience as the game was aired by ESPNU.

"This is my most disappointing loss [of the season]. I'm very, very disappointed," Edgar said. "We had a chance to showcase ourselves to a national audience.

"I'm disappointed. I know they're better than that."

Southeast's Dionte Perry skies above teammates and Eastern Kentucky players to shoot after grabbing an offensive rebound at the Show Me Center on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

For the first time all season, Edgar did now allow his players to address the media following a game.

Among Edgar's biggest downers regarding the game was that the Redhawks again flopped at home and tied their season-low point total against an Ohio Valley Conference opponent.

Southeast finished its OVC home schedule with a 4-6 record.

The Redhawks have their final three OVC games on the road, which is probably a good thing, because they're 4-3 in league play away from home.

The Redhawks are the OVC's highest-scoring team in conference play, averaging 76.1 points per game prior to Saturday.

"I'm not used to losing. I'm not used to losing at home," Edgar said. "I'm disappointed we scored 61 points. I don't think we were the aggressor."

Edgar's disappointment aside, the fans at the Show Me Center and those watching on television were actually treated to an exciting -- if not artistically played -- game.

The contest featured seven ties and eight lead changes. Neither team led by more than five points in the second half.

But the Colonels (15-9, 10-6) made the biggest plays down the stretch, as they posted their fifth straight win.

EKU remained in fifth place in the OVC, just one-half game behind Tennessee Tech and Murray State, who are tied for third/fourth place. The top four finishers earn home games for the first round of the conference tournament.

"That's five straight, and three straight on the road," said EKU freshman guard Adam Leonard, who hit six of 10 3-pointers and led all scorers with 22 points. "This is a big win, especially since they beat us at our place."

Southeast, which won 88-74 at EKU on Jan. 2, fell to 10-16 overall and 8-9 in OVC play. The Redhawks remained in sixth place.

The Redhawks fell to 4-7 in OVC games decided in the closing minutes.

Although commiting 19 turnovers and allowing the Colonels to attempt 30 foul shots hurt, a familiar nemesis also again burned Southeast: poor free-throw shooting.

The Redhawks entered play tied for last in the OVC from the charity stripe at 62.5 percent, although they had actually improved lately and made 16 of 19 (84.2 percent) during Thursday's home win over Morehead State.

But against EKU, Southeast hit only 10 of 19 free throws (52.6 percent), including eight of 16 in the second half and three of seven in the final four minutes.

The Redhawks led 54-53 with just under five minutes remaining.

But over the final 4:54, EKU made nine of nine free throws, compared to five of nine by Southeast.

"Once again, in a game like this, the most glaring stat is free-throw shooting," Edgar said. "We've got to be better down the stretch."

Southeast's culprits from the line were unlikely ones.

Freshman point guard Roderick Pearson, Southeast's top free-throw shooter on the season at 75.3 percent before Saturday -- he was eight for eight against Morehead State -- made just one of five. He missed all three of his attempts in the final four minutes.

Freshman guard Marcus Rhodes, Southeast's second-best free-throw shooter on the season at 70.1 percent before Saturday, missed both of his attempts.

On the other hand, junior forward Brandon Foust -- shooting just 57.7 percent from the line entering play -- was seven of nine, including five of six in the final 4:54.

Foust led the Redhawks with 18 points, 13 in the second half.

Freshman guard Johnny Hill scored 11 points off the bench -- nine in the first half -- as he did not miss from the field all night.

"Johnny sparked us in the first half," said Edgar, whose squad led 32-27 at the break despite falling behind 16-5 early.

Junior guard David Johnson added 10 points for the Redhawks.

Johnson missed a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left and Southeast trailing 62-61. He again misfired from beyond the arc with 10 seconds left and Southeast down 64-61.

EKU then made its final two free throws to ice the win.